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521 Jefferson Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
Covers its debt with margin to spare at the current price.
Investment potential
Your scenario · adjust the levers below or open advanced settings to see how returns change
$63,047
$5,254/mo · at 55% occupancy & $418/night
$8,462
$705/mo after costs & mortgage
Cap rate
7.7%
Cash-on-cash
5.6%
DSCR
1.28
Confidence
Your assumptions
Revenue
$63,047/yr
Market avg: $63,047/yr · 55% occ · $418 ADR
Financing
$29,939/yr
Operating costs
$24,646/yr
How this property compares to similar short-term rentals nearby.
Comparable set · 50 properties
$211–$590
Median $418
33%–90%
Median 55%
$29.9K–$103.8K
Median $62.9K
193–365
Median 296
This property · $63.0K
Comparable properties (50)
Cash flow potential Medium · Appreciation potential Medium
235 days available · 184 days booked ·
365 days available · 189 days booked ·
362 days available · 189 days booked ·
344 days available · 185 days booked ·
334 days available · 186 days booked ·
228 days available · 158 days booked ·
295 days available · 151 days booked ·
359 days available · 179 days booked ·
313 days available · 143 days booked ·
288 days available · 159 days booked ·
360 days available · 159 days booked ·
303 days available · 165 days booked ·
273 days available · 210 days booked ·
239 days available · 176 days booked ·
307 days available · 201 days booked ·
301 days available · 178 days booked ·
364 days available · 147 days booked ·
244 days available · 142 days booked ·
217 days available · 129 days booked ·
281 days available · 127 days booked ·
298 days available · 169 days booked ·
333 days available · 172 days booked ·
274 days available · 162 days booked ·
269 days available · 156 days booked ·
325 days available · 144 days booked ·
329 days available · 161 days booked ·
317 days available · 225 days booked ·
288 days available · 164 days booked ·
339 days available · 122 days booked ·
256 days available · 147 days booked ·
271 days available · 145 days booked ·
323 days available · 140 days booked ·
223 days available · 131 days booked ·
193 days available · 135 days booked ·
358 days available · 119 days booked ·
318 days available · 135 days booked ·
252 days available · 131 days booked ·
262 days available · 135 days booked ·
295 days available · 178 days booked ·
247 days available · 105 days booked ·
254 days available · 124 days booked ·
323 days available · 193 days booked ·
313 days available · 158 days booked ·
313 days available · 118 days booked ·
250 days available · 124 days booked ·
333 days available · 137 days booked ·
259 days available · 149 days booked ·
239 days available · 104 days booked ·
296 days available · 164 days booked ·
268 days available · 90 days booked ·
Revenue and occupancy reflect Chalet's modeled estimates from observed booking activity for comparable active listings. Individual results vary with management, seasonality, and pricing.
Who this property is for
The same property is a great buy for one investor and a trap for another. Here's the honest read.
1031 / high-equity buyer
~$123.5K
Year-1 tax shield
Buying with cash or low leverage removes the debt-coverage problem entirely, so the thesis rests on appreciation plus a large first-year write-off. At roughly 25% of purchase price, the shield is substantial enough to carry the deal on its own.
DSCR cash-flow buyer
1.28
DSCR at asking
At asking price the property clears the 1.20 DSCR most lenders require, so it should qualify for DSCR financing and cover its own debt service from day one. This is the buyer this deal is built for.
Price-disciplined buyer
—
Break-even purchase price
Even a deep discount doesn't get this deal to break even within a realistic range, so there's no price anchor to negotiate toward. A price-disciplined buyer should pass unless the revenue assumptions change.
For a buyer who materially participates and qualifies for the STR tax treatment.
$123.5K
Estimated first-year deduction · range $102.5K–$140.8K
Why this matters here
At a marginal bracket, this deduction can be worth $37.9K–$52.1K in estimated federal tax saved.
This only applies if you meet the IRS material-participation tests for short-term rentals and are not using a full-service property manager.
Estimate, subject to CPA review. Cost-segregation percentages shown here are illustrative and depend on an actual study of the property.
Some states do not conform to federal bonus depreciation, so your state may not allow the same first-year treatment shown above.
Chalet can introduce a cost-segregation partner — this is not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How cash-on-cash return moves with purchase price. The marked line is break-even (1.0 DSCR).
At this price: cash-on-cash +5.6%, DSCR 1.28, cash flow $8,462/yr
| Price vs asking | Price | Cash-on-cash | DSCR | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -25% | $375,000 | 13.6% | 1.71 | Positive |
| -22% | $390,000 | 12.4% | 1.64 | Positive |
| -15% | $425,000 | 9.9% | 1.51 | Positive |
| -8% | $460,000 | 7.8% | 1.39 | Positive |
| Asking | $500,000 | 5.6% | 1.28 | Positive |
| +8% | $540,000 | 3.8% | 1.19 | Positive |
| +15% | $575,000 | 2.3% | 1.12 | Positive |
Break-even price
Out of range
This deal does not reach break-even within ±25% of asking.
Discount needed
—
The gap between asking and the price a cash-flow buyer can underwrite.
If refi to 5.5% in 24 mo
+$4,388/yr
Illustrative cash-flow improvement at asking price if rates fall. Planning figure, not a forecast.
Annual avg $5,254 · peaks at $6,794 in Jul
Annual avg 54% · peaks at 73% in Oct
$705/mo after all expenses
Cash to close
Down payment, closing costs, and furnishing
$145,000
Return on cash:23.1%
You qualify for STR financing
Your DSCR is 1.28 · lenders typically require 1.0+.
Get matched with 2–3 vetted STR lenders, free.
What the deal returns over the hold — including the tax shield, which is the whole point for an appreciation buyer.
Levered IRR
24.8%
over 5-yr hold, with tax shield
Equity multiple
2.4×
total proceeds vs. $145,000 invested
Projected value at exit
$638,141
year 5 · 5.0% annual appreciation
Tax shield contribution
+7.8 pts
of IRR comes from year-1 depreciation
| Year | Equity | Appreciation | Cumulative cash flow | Total value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $128,809 | $25,000 | $54,157 | $207,966 |
| Year 2 | $132,894 | $51,250 | $63,565 | $247,709 |
| Year 3 | $137,274 | $78,813 | $73,932 | $290,019 |
| Year 4 | $141,970 | $107,753 | $85,274 | $334,998 |
| Year 5 | $147,007 | $138,141 | $97,605 | $382,752 |
Projection, not a promise.
Assumes 5.0% annual appreciation, 1.5% rent growth (operating costs held flat), and that the property qualifies for short-term-rental tax treatment. The year-1 depreciation shield depends on a real cost-segregation study and your tax situation — consult a CPA.
Appreciation is the dominant driver of this return. When cash flow is negative, the deal depends on the property gaining value — it is not paying for itself from income.
Appreciation, rent growth, and financing rates are editable under Edit financials.
STR deals turn on local rules and demand that a generalist agent misses. Chalet matches you with a vetted Gatlinburg agent who knows which properties actually cash flow — and which to avoid.
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Real Estate Investment Analysis & Market Insights
Disclaimer. This page and the data presented are for informational purposes only. The information provided should not be construed as financial, legal, or investment advice. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.
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